Coronation Street star comes out

The 25-year-old, who plays Ken Barlow’s son, Daniel Osbourne, in the long-running soap told Gay Times that he had come out to his family and friends when he was 17.

“I was very fortunate,” he said. “I had a very non-plussed family and it’s become the subject of warm, friendly general humour over the years.”

The actor said that he had not made his sexuality public before, because he thought it would adversely affect viewers’ perception of his character, who is straight and is due to start on a steamy heterosexual affair.

He said: “The only concern I had at first was if I’m with a female character, will an audience who knows I’m gay in real life believe it?